The YES to Pneumococcal Protection campaign, initiated by parent-led Parenting2u in partnership with the Malaysian Paediatric Association and Asian Strategic Alliance for Pneumococcal Prevention (ASAP) drew to a close in September, successfully collecting close to 20,000 pledge cards.

The total count, almost double of the targeted 10,000 pledges, bore testimony to the overpowering voice of doctors and the public urging the government to include the PCV into the National Immunisation Programme.

103 participating doctors from 11 states across Malaysia completed their quota of 100-200 cards in various ways, some more creative than others. Most enlisted the help of their nurses to conduct the campaign, checking on the progress periodically or when the cards ran out. Others played a more active role, personally canvassing pledges from colleagues, friends, hospital staff and relatives.

"We thank all doctors who have taken time and effort to be part of this campaign," says Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail, Chairman of ASAP and former president of MPA. “The strong support is a sign of solidarity and we are proud to know that all our paediatricians are united in wanting the best for our young patients!”

Digital images of the cards will be captured for the third phase of the campaign, which is to push for action from policy-makers. The collected cards will later be presented to the Ministry of Health as a memorandum from all pledgers, while a report of the campaign progress will be shared with all participating doctors.

Special thanks go out to the Steering Committee of YES to PnD Protection consisting of Dato Dr Musa Nordin, Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail, Dr Yong Junina and Dr Tang Swee Fong, who have lent strong support and assistance to make the campaign a success.

Heartfelt appreciation is also extended to Dr Thiyagar Nadarajaw, who trumped the campaign with 1200 pledges, followed by Dr Hafizah Zainuddin with over 800 pledges.

The one question that is frequently broached throughout the 6-month campaign is ‘Why are you doing this?’. The answer, like the famed ‘Because it’s there’ response by mountaineer George Mallory when asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest, is ‘Because we can’. If paediatricians who best understand pneumococcal disease do not unite to fight for its prevention, who else will?